jaw

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flap (one's) jaws

To talk in a meaningless, aimless, or idle manner. Jim always starts flapping his jaws after he's had a couple of drinks.

jaw away

To talk incessantly and/or at great length. I became so bored while the professor jawed away at us that I nearly fell asleep in the middle of the lecture. Whenever I meet up with Tammy, our "conversation" is always just her jawing away while I listen patiently on.

snatch (someone) from the jaws of death

To rescue someone at the last moment from near or certain death. Thankfully, the EMTs arrived to the crash in time to snatch the woman and her child from the jaws of death.

be snatched from the jaws of death

To be rescued at the last moment from near or certain death. The drowning fishermen were snatched from the jaws of death by a passing cruise ship.

make (someone's) jaw drop

To cause someone to pause in astonishment, awe, or disbelief, especially with their mouth left open. Did you see Kathy's new dress? It's so gorgeous it made my jaw drop! That play was so amazing that it made all of our jaws drop! It made my husband's jaw drop to hear that I was leaving him.

snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

To fail, lose, or be defeated despite the appearance that one would be victorious, especially due to a mistake, error, or poor judgment. (An ironic reversal of the more common "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.") We were ahead by nearly 20 points with less than half the quarter remaining—how on earth did we manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like that? The candidate has led in the polls right up to election day, but with that unfortunate remark last night, he may well have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

See also: defeat, jaw, of, snatch, victory

snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

To win, succeed, or be victorious at the last moment, despite the apparent likelihood of failure or defeat. They were down by nearly 20 points with less than half of the last quarter remaining, but through sheer skill and perseverance they managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The candidate has been behind in the polls right up to election day, but with that unfortunate remark by his opponent last night, he may end up snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

See also: defeat, jaw, of, snatch, victory

(one's) jaw drops

One shows utter shock or great surprise, especially upon learning unexpected news. Our jaws dropped when we found out how much they were paying in rent. Oh my gosh, I can't believe you're going to have a baby! My jaw is dropping!

the jaws of (something)

Something, especially something unpleasant or undesirable, that very nearly comes to pass. Used especially after "snatch from." The drowning fishermen were snatched from the jaws of death by a passing cruise ship. They were down by nearly 20 points with less than half of the last quarter remaining, but through sheer skill and perseverance they managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

flap one's gums

and flap one's jaws

Rur. to talk aimlessly. They're still out on the porch, flapping their gums. Well, I can't sit here flapping my jaws all day. Gotta get back to work.

have a glass jaw

Fig. to be susceptible to a knockout when struck on the head. (Said only of boxers who are frequently knocked down by a blow to the head.) When the prizefighter was knocked out cold by a right to the chin in the first round, the newspapers said he had a glass jaw. Once a fighter has a glass jaw, he's finished as a boxer.

jaw about someone or something

Fig. to talk aimlessly about someone or something. Do we have to keep jawing about Tom all day? Stop jawing about your problems and set about fixing them.

jaw at someone

Fig. to lecture at someone; to talk endlessly to someone. Please stop jawing at me. You are jawing at me too much lately.

jaw someone down

Sl. to talk someone down; to wear someone down talking. We'll try to jaw him down. If that doesn't work, I don't know what we will do. We will jaw down the objectors.

snatch someone out of the jaws of death

and snatch someone from the jaws of death

Fig. to save someone from almost certain or imminent death. The soldier snatched the tiny child from the jaws of death.

snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

Cliché to win at the last moment. At the last moment, the team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-second full-court basket.

See also: defeat, jaw, of, snatch, victory

your ˈjaw drops

your mouth opens because you are very surprised: When they told her that she had won a million dollars, her jaw dropped in amazement. ▶ ˈjaw-dropping adj.: Taking the desert road was a jaw-dropping experience.

the jaws of ˈdeath, deˈfeat, etc.

(literary) used to describe an unpleasant situation that almost happens: The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

jaw

1. n. a chat. I could use a good jaw with my old friend.

2. in. to chat. Stop jawing and get to work.

3. Go to jaw(bone).

jaw someone down

tv. to talk someone down; to wear someone down talking. We’ll try to jaw him down. If that doesn’t work, I don’t know what we will do.

jaw(bone)

tv. to try to persuade someone verbally; to apply verbal pressure to someone. They tried to jawbone me into doing it.

jaw

verb

See jawbone

References in classic literature ?

Matt took hold of White Fang, ready to pull when Cherokee's jaws should be loosened.

The other reached into the holster at his hip, drew his revolver, and tried to thrust its muzzle between the bull-dog's jaws.

He had managed to get the muzzle in between the jaws on one side, and was trying to get it out between the jaws on the other side.

His jaws were apart, and through them the tongue protruded, draggled and limp.

View in context

The thing might easily have risen out of my reach, but evidently it knew as little concerning retreat in the face of danger as either Woola or I, for it dropped quickly toward me, and before I could escape had grasped my shoulder between its powerful jaws.

With a convulsive shudder the thing stiffened, the jaws relaxed, dropping me to the ground, and then, careening once in mid air, the creature plunged headforemost to the road, full upon Woola, who still clung tenaciously to its gory head.

View in context

Slowly, I scratched about his ears and neck and down beneath the fierce jaws.

As I did so he turned and looked up into my face, his jaws parting and his red tongue lolling as you have seen your own dog's beneath a love pat.

View in context

The blades, called gnathal plates, looked so peculiar that most scientists thought that the three-part jaw originated in an early bony fish and that placoderms were just a side branch in the vertebrate family tree.

Fossil find revises history of jaws: placoderms may be ancestors of bony fish, land vertebrates

A major priority for the Government of Saskatchewan is community safety, Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence said on behalf of Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant.

Canada : City of Moose Jaw Receives $330,000 for Targeted Policing Initiatives

But heavy bass can be safely lifted vertically by the jaw in a conventional lipping manner.

Jaw breaker bass

Few tools are more used by the gunsmith than the bench vise with crosshatched steel jaws and a swivel base.

Soft metal vise jaws

The Vanguard Jaw Crusher features replaceable wear parts to protect producers' investment in their equipment.

KPI-JCI crusher reduces maintenance; increases energy, performance

On this basis, evaluates the use of different types of clamping jaws, suitable for the restrained parts.

Clamping jaws with sensory equipment for intelligent fixture

With the new kanga jaw configuration, we can now emulate a box-motion with all the benefits of a high speed rotary system which is a new and original approach.